More recently, a Google spokesperson told KXAN News the company was hoping to open sign ups for Google Fiber this summer.

“I would hope [Google Fiber would come to my neighborhood],” said Katherine Reagan, who lives near one of the spots where Google has applied for a permit. “We saw the billboards back about six months ago when they first started to introduce the idea of maybe having Google Fiber come out to Austin.”

In order to build its network, Google plans to run thousands of miles of fiber-optic cables through the city. That process, Google confirmed in February, would be happening over the next several months.

A KXAN analysis also found at least 36 active or pending temporary right of way use permits in the city.

Before that, the fastest residential Internet speed was offered through AT&T’s U-verse with GigaPower. That service boasts 300 Mbps — fast enough to download seven songs in a second. The company plans to boost the speed to 1 Gbps later this year.

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